State government moots 1,622-km national highways costing Rs 4,470 crore

HYDERABAD : The state government has decided to build 1,622-km-long national highways in the state in the current fiscal year by spending Rs 4,470 crore under the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) with central funding.

The roads & buildings (R&B) department, which is responsible for the development and maintenance of national highways in the state besides building and maintaining the road infrastructure, prepared a detailed project report (DPR) to seek central clearances and the required funds for laying the proposed national highways in the state by spending ` 4,470 crore.

The department has also decided to seek central funds to the tune of ` 990 crore to construct bridges in the state under Sethu Bharatam scheme.

This was decided at the review meeting held by R&B minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on the Assembly premises here on Sunday. Later, the minister directed department’s chief engineer Ganapathi Reddy to visit Delhi on Monday itself to submit the DPR to the Centre in order to get speedy clearances.

Rao asked his department officials to chalk out an action plan and prepare project reports for other proposed national highways in the state.

“A well-connected road network is essential for development of any state. Availability of roads make cities and towns competitive and can contribute to the growth of the economy. Our state is already well-connected with roads. We should further improve the infrastructure,” he said.

As per the minister’s suggestion, officials prepared another project report to seek `990 crores from the Centre from the Sethu Bharatam scheme.

He asked the officials to identify new road overbridges and road underbridges to be constructed across the state on national highways by spending another `578 crore. He also asked the officials to identify bridges that need to be widened or replaced.